Perceptions of SES leaders

The Australian Public Service Employee Census Senior Executive Service (SES) Manager Leadership Index measures how employees view the leadership behaviours of their immediate SES manager.

APS Employee Census questions that contribute to the SES Manager Leadership Index are:

• My SES manager clearly articulates the direction and priorities for our area.
• My SES manager presents convincing arguments and persuades others towards an outcome.
• My SES manager promotes cooperation within and between agencies.
• My SES manager encourages innovation and creativity.
• My SES manager creates an environment that enables us to deliver our best.
• My SES manager ensures that work effort contributes to the strategic direction of the agency and the APS.

Figures AB 22 to AB 27 and tables AB 22 to AB 27 report on SES Manager Leadership Index scores for agencies, by agency size, for APS respondents.

SES Manager Leadership Index scores are not presented for agencies with fewer than 2 SES officers as at 30 June 2023 or 30 June 2024.

Note: Only index scores for APS agencies are presented. APS Employee Census results for entities that engage staff under the Public Service Act 1999 but are not APS agencies under the Act are available on the entity’s website.

Figure AB 22: SES Manager Leadership Index by agency size

Source: APS Employee Census

Table AB 22: SES Manager Leadership Index by agency size

Source: APS Employee Census

Figure AB 23: SES Manager Leadership Index for extra-large agencies (10,000+ employees)

Source: APS Employee Census

Table AB 23: SES Manager Leadership Index for extra-large agencies (10,000+ employees)

Source: APS Employee Census

Figure AB 24: SES Manager Leadership Index for large agencies (1,001 to 10,000 employees)

Source: APS Employee Census

Table AB 24: SES Manager Leadership Index for large agencies (1,001 to 10,000 employees)

Source: APS Employee Census

Figure AB 25: SES Manager Leadership Index for medium agencies (251 to 1,000 employees)

Source: APS Employee Census
Note: The Australian Submarine Agency was not an APS agency in 2023. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Sport Integrity Australia were small agencies in 2023.

Table AB 25: SES Manager Leadership Index for medium agencies (251 to 1,000 employees)

Source: APS Employee Census
Note: The Australian Submarine Agency was not an APS agency in 2023. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Sport Integrity Australia were small agencies in 2023.

Figure AB 26: SES Manager Leadership Index for small agencies (101 to 250 employees)

Source: APS Employee Census
Note: The National Anti-Corruption Commission was not an APS agency in 2023. The Australian Institute of Family Studies was an extra-small agency in 2023.

Table AB 26: SES Manager Leadership Index for small agencies (101 to 250 employees)

Source: APS Employee Census
Note: The National Anti-Corruption Commission was not an APS agency in 2023. The Australian Institute of Family Studies was an extra-small agency in 2023.

Figure AB 27: SES Manager Leadership Index for extra-small agencies (20 to 100 employees)

Source: APS Employee Census
Note: The Parliamentary Workplace Support Service was not an APS agency in 2023. 

Table AB 27: SES Manager Leadership Index for extra-small agencies (20 to 100 employees)

Source: APS Employee Census
Note: The Parliamentary Workplace Support Service was not an APS agency in 2023.